Welcome Home Cookies

I bake these cookies

every time my husband returns

 from a business trip.

Sometimes I think he goes on

fakes trips just so that I will make 

these cookies.

So I suppose they don't 

have to be "Welcome Home" cookies.

They could just be, 

"Here have a cookie" cookies

or "Nice shirt, here's a cookie" cookies

or even,

"It's Wednesday, lets eat cookies" cookies

All I'm saying is,

you have GOT to try these cookies!

*Preferably with a big glass of ice cold milk

Here's what you'll need: 

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 package of butterscotch instant pudding

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 cup cream cheese

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chocolate chips

Step one: Cream together the butter and sugar

Step two: Mix in pudding mix, eggs, vanilla, and cream cheese

Step three: Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl

Step four: Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients. 

Step five: Fold in chocolate chips

Step six: Cover and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour 

*or freeze for 15 minutes.

Step seven: Form round cookie dough balls 
and place on baking sheet. 

Step between 7 and 8: Eat cookie dough 

(or not, because it contains raw eggs and raw eggs are bad,

 or do because come on, it's cookie dough

 it's super yummy. Hey, it's your call.)

Step eight: Bake for 12 minutes

Step nine: Cool on baking sheet for 90 seconds

Step ten: Let cool on cooling rack

Enjoy!

Celebrating a birthday? 
Skip the cake!

Make these "Birthday Cookies"

Happy Birthday

Here's a stack of cookies!

Zucchini Meatball Sub

Meatball subs are kind of my weakness. 

 So when my kids begged me 

to make them last night,

I admit I got a little nervous. 

Since I've been pretty "good" lately,

I didn't want to let those

gooey meatballs 

lure me into eating way too much

like those little temptresses always do. 

So I improvised,

skipped the bun, 

and created a zucchini sub instead! 

I have to say, 

I think I actually prefer it this way. 

Here's the recipe:

Homemade Turkey Meatballs

One Pound Ground Turkey

One Egg

1/2 Cup Breadcrumbs

Half an Onion (Diced)

1/4 Cup Fresh Grated Parmesan

Couple shakes of Worcestershire sauce

Splash of milk

Italian Seasonings

Garlic Powder

Red Pepper Flakes

Salt & Pepper

*I don't ever really measure seasoning.

So just be generous 

and you'll end up with tasty meatballs.

Mix everything in a large bowl.

Form your meatballs.

Place them on a baking sheet 

(After lining it with foil 

and spraying it down with nonstick spray.)

Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees 

for about 25 minutes.

Of course you're welcome to make your own sauce

after all, Homemade is Better.

But I took the easy way out this time

and used a jar of whatever was in the pantry.

Now at this point go ahead 

toast your bun or hoagie

and serve it up old school

OR...

Skip the bun (and the carbs)

Grill up a few slices of zucchini instead.

Trust me, 

You won't even miss the bread!

Top with fresh parmesan. 

Enjoy!